Tray set



Patented Jan. 26, 1943 TRAY ySET David Heller, Brooklyn, N. Y., .assignor to Hi-Lo Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 21, 1941, Serial No. 384,456

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to tray sets. More particularly my invention is directed to a novel construction for extensible tray sets.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel tray set of the class described, having a plurality of superimposed trays, in which the said trays may be relatively moved with respect to each from a nested position to an eX- tended position so that the same may be used either as a single tray, or as a tray set consisting of any desired number of trays .spaced one 'above the other.

Another object of my invention is' to provide a novel construction for a tray set of the class described, which shall comprise relatively vfew and simple parts, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which `shall be easy to assemble and which at the same time vshall operate with a high degree of eiliciency, representing a general improvement in the art.

Other objects of my invention will become apparent in the following detailed description hereof.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of a tray vset constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the same inits fully extended position;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view thereof, partly .in section, but of smaller size and illustrating the same in fully collapsed position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the tray set shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating a modiiied form of my invention; and

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of the Fig. 2 form of my invention, but of reduced 'size and illustrating the same as mounted on a support.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 4I have shown a tray set of the type generally employed in homes and used for cakes, cookies, candies and the like, and which in the present embodiment comprises three trays III, II and I2 spaced one above the other a predetermined distance. In accordance with my invention, I have provided the following construction whereby the `said trays IU, II. and I2 may be collapsed from the extended position shown in Fig. 1 `to the position shown in Fig. 2 where it maybe utilized as a single tray or in which condition it may be stored. In the latter event it is noted that the storage space required will be a great de'al less than that required for the type of tray set heretofore manufactured in which the trays are always in permanently extended position and cannot be collapsed.

Attached to the lowermost tray ID is a, tubular member I5 of a predetermined diameter, the said tube I 5 being attached to the tray I0 in any suitable manner. One method of attachment is that shown in Fig. l of the drawing in which a portion I5a of the tube I5 adjacent a lower edge thereof passes through a central opening I6 in the tray I0 after which the material is bent over and crimped against the said tray. The tube I5 will thus be permanently and rigidly attached to the tray I0 for movement therewith. Attached to the intermediate tray II is tubular member I'I, similar in construction to the tube I5 and similarly rigidly attached to the tray II for movement therewith as the tube I5 is attached tothe tray I0. Similarly the uppermost tray I2 has rigidly and permanently attached thereto for movement therewith a tubular member I8, similar to the tubular members I5 and I'I, but of larger diameter. The diameter of the tube I'I is such that it will be slidably received over the tube I5 and the diameter of the tube I8 is such that the same will be slidably received over the tube I'I. It is thus seen from the above described construction that when the tray device is in its collapsed position with the uppermost tube I8 slidably moved so as to cause the tray I2 to lie above tray III as shown in Fig. 1, the tube I5 will vbe nested within the tube I'I and the tubes I5 and Il will in turn be nested within the tube I8 so that only the tube I8 will be visible when the `tray set is in collapsed position.

For interconnecting the trays IIJ, II and I2 so that they may be moved from collapsed to eX- tended position or vice versa, I have provided thefollowing means:

Attached adjacent the top end of the tube I8 is a rigid .washer member I9. Permanently and rigidly attached to the said washer I9, at the center thereof and depending therefrom, is a tubular member 2B of relatively small diameter, the said tube 20 being attached to the washer I9 by any suitable means, such as, for example, a screw 2'I passing through the top wall of the tubular member 20 and through the washer I9. The said screw 2l may also be utilized for attaching tothe tube I8 and to the washer I9 a finger gripping member 22 to facilitate the extending and collapsing movements of the tray set. It is thus seen that the tube 2B will move with the tube I8 and with the tray' I2. Attached to the tube I'I for movement therewith in the following manner, is a tubular member 23. The

,said tube I'I is provided at the top with a bent over wall portion 24 which terminates in an inner rounded edge 24a. The said rounded edge 24a is adapted to be received in a corresponding circumferential recessed groove 25, adjacent to the upper end of the tube 23. The tube 23 is in turn slidably interconnected to the tubular member I5 vby an intermediate tubular member 30, said tube 30 being slightly larger in diameter than the tube 23 and slightly smaller in diameter than the tube I5. Itis thus seen that when the uppermost tubular member I8 is brought down to the collapsed position shown in Fig. 2, the tubes 23,

26, 23 and 30 will all be nested within the tubular member I5.

34 are circumferentially spaced from each otherv and interposed between the tube I and the tube 33 as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawing. The leaf springs 33, 32 and 3| are similarly circumferentially spaced and interposed between the tubes 33 and 23, 2'3 and 26, and 25 and 23 respectively.- The said series of leaf springs 3| to 34 are arched or bowed so as to resiliently and frictionally hold the nestable tubular members 23, 2S, 23, 33 and I5 in any extended or collapsed position. In order to change the relative positions between the trays I0, |I and |2, it is 'necessary to exert a slight force to overcome the frictional action of the leaf springs 3| to 34.

In' order to retain the leaf springs 3| in their proper position between the tubes 23 and 26 at al1 timesA whether the tray set is extended or collapsed, I provide a pair of circumferential beads 35 in the wall of the tube 20 and disposed adjacent to and on opposite sides of the leaf springs 3|. Similarly the leaf springs 32 are retained in position by means of a pair of circumferential beads 36 in the tube 26. The leaf springs 33 are retained in position by a pair of circumferential beads 31 in the tube 23, and the leaf springs 34 are retained in position by a pair of circumferential beads 33 in the tube 30. Each of the trays I0, II and I2' may be provided with centrally disposed upwardly dished :portions Ia, IIa, and |2a, respectively. It is noted that the dished portion la of the tray II is slightly larger than the dished portion Illa of `the tray I0, and the dished portion |2a of the tray I2 is slightly larger than the dished portion IIal of the tray |I. In view of the above described dished construction of the trays, it is seen that when the tray set is in completely collapsed position asin Figure 2, the said trays IU, il and I2 will be in nested position so that the three trays will appear as a single tray. 'I'o that end, also, the diameter of the trays IB, II and I2 would be made progressively smaller with the tray i3 having the largest diameter.

To facilitate the movement of the tray set to extended or collapsed position, I have provided at the base of the set a bail member 4B having the ends 43a thereof, freely [passing through the opening I5 in the dished portion Illa of the tray I3 and bent over and resiliently held in position within the circumferential bead 4I of the tube I5. The bail member 4i! may be pivotally moved to lie fiat within the dished portion IUa, as shown in Figure 3 when not in use. When it is desired to either extend or collapse the tray set, the bail member 4E! is pivotally moved to the position shown in Figure 1 where the finger of one hand may be inserted in the loop of the bail member 33 and with the other hand gripping the fingerpiece 22, at the top, the device may be actuated.

in Figure 5 of the drawing, I have shown a modified form of my invention, in which the trays i5', II and I2 (similar to the trays I0, I| and i2) may be employed and in which the said trays are permanently attached to tubular members 56, 5| and 52 in the same manner that the i tubes I5, II and I8 are attached to the' trays I3, I| and I2. In this form of my invention, a plurality of nested tubular members are employed to permit the alte-ration of the relative distances between the trays I3', |If and I2. However, such nested tubes are differently arranged from the construction shown in Figure 1.

In the Figure 5 form of my invention, the connection between the trays I0 and II are made by a tube 53 of relatively small diameter, which is permanently attached to tube 5I by having a top wall portion 5Ia thereof permanently attached to the top wall 53a of the tube 53 by means of a rivet 54. An intermediate tube 55 larger. in diameter than the tube 53 and smaller in diameter then the tube 50, slidably interconnectsthe tube 53 with the' tube 50. The tube 5| is interconnected with the tube 52 by means of an intermediate tube 56, larger in diameter than the tube 5| and smaller in diameter than the tube 52. Interposed between the tubes 56 and 52 is a tube 51 slightly smaller in diameter than the tube 52 and disposed adjacent the inner wall thereof. The said tube 51, as well as the tube 52 are rigidly attached to the ngerpiece 22 by means of a washer 58 and the screw 59, in a manner similar to the attachment of the tube I8 to the ngerpiece 22. A series of circumferentially spaced leaf springs 63, 6I, 62 and 63, are employed between adjacent pairs of nested tubes to frictionallyl maintain the said tubes in any desired extended or collapsed position. The series of leaf springs 60 to 63 perform the same function as the series of leaf springs 3| to 34 anda-re, maintained against displacement and withdrawal fromthe tubes, by circumferentialbeads similar to the pairs of beads 35 to 38.

In the two forms of my invention, I have illustrated the tray set as being so constructed that the lowermost tray serves as a base or support for the tray set either in its extended or collapsed position. In Fig. 6, however, I have shown a modified form of my invention in which the tray set is constructed as in the Fig. 1 to 4 or Fig. 5 forms of my invention, but instead of using the f lowermost tray as the base of the device, I provide an additional support comprising a base member 'I3 with an upstandng stem of 'II, the

said stem being attached to the lowermost tray.

In Fig. 6 the tray set is shown 4in collapsed position, and in this form the same may be utilized as an ornamental piece, even when not in actual use, and may be of such height as to stand from the oor. When it is desired, however, this tray device may be extended to the positions shown in either Fig. 1 or Fig. 5.

While in the drawing I have illustrated my invention as constructed with three trays, it is understood that any other number of trays may be satisfactorily employed and that my invention extends to such use; also it is noted that any suitable style of tray may be utilized, the same being made from any suitable kind of material.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the prin- Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an extensible device of the class described, a lowermost tray, an uppermost tray, a rst tubular member fastened to said lowermost tray for movement therewith, a second tubular member fastened to said uppermost tray for movement therewith and extensible means interconnecting said first and second tubular members, whereby the relative distance between said trays may be altered, said extensible means oomprising a plurality of slidably nestable members, means for limiting the movement of said uppermost tray in a direction away from said lowermost tray, and means for maintaining said uppermost tray in said last named limited position as well as in any intermediate position.

2. In a device of the class described, a lowermost tray, an uppermost tray, a first tubular member fastened to said lowermost tray for movement therewith, a second tubular member fastened to said uppermost tray for movement therewith and extensible means interconnecting said first and second tubular members, said extensible means comprising a plurality of slidably nestable members adapted, when the device is in fully collapsed position, to be nested within said rst tubular member, said first tubular member being in turn nestably received within said second tubular member to cause said uppermost tray to overlie said lowermost tray, means for limiting the movement of said uppermost tray in a direction away from said lowermost tray, and means for maintaining said uppermost tray in said last named limited position as well as in any intermediate position.

3. In an extensible device of the class described, a, lowermost tray, an uppermost tray, an intermediate tray, a rst tubular member fastened to said lowermost tray for movement therewith, a second tubular member fastened to said uppermost tray for movement therewith and a third tubular member fastened to said intermediate tray for movement therewith, said rst, second and third tubular members being relatively slidabiy movable to a position where said first tubular member is nested within said third tubular member and said first and third tubular members are nested within said second tubular member to cause said uppermost tray to be nested within said intermediate tray and said uppermost and intermediate trays to be nested within said lowermost tray, means for limiting the movement of said uppermost and intermediate trays in a direction away from said lowermost tray and means for maintaining said uppermost and intermediate trays in said last named limited position as Well as in any desired intermediate position.

4. In a device of the class described, a lowermost tray, an uppermost tray, an intermediate tray, a iirst tubular member fastened to said lowermost tray for movement therewith, a second tubular member fastened to said uppermost tray for movement therewith, a third tubular member fastened to said intermediate tray for movement therewith and extensible means interconnecting said second and third tubular members with each other and with said rst tubular member', means for limiting the movement of said uppermost and intermediate trays in a direction away from said lowermost tray and. means for maintaining said uppermost and intermediate trays in said last namedlimited position as well as in any desired intermediate position.

5. In a device of the class described, a lowermost tray, an uppermost tray, a first tubular member fastened to said lowermost tray for movement therewith, a second tubular member fastened to said uppermost tray for movement therewith, extensible means interconnecting said first and second tubular members, said extensible means comprising a plurality of slidably nestable members, means for limiting the movement of said uppermost tray in a direction away from said lowermost tray and means for maintaining said device in any desired extended position, said last named means comprising a resilient member frictionally interposed between adjacent pairs of said slidably nestable members.

6. In a device of the class described, a lowermost tray, an uppermost tray, a first tubular member fastened to said lowermost tray for movement therewith, a second tubular member fastened to said uppermost tray for movement therewith, extensible means interconnecting said first and second tubular members, said extensible means comprising a plurality of slidably nestable members, means for limiting the movement of said uppermost tray in a direction away from said lowermost tray and means for maintaining said device in any desired extended position, said last named means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members frictionally interposed between adjacent pairs of said slidably nestable members, said spring members being arched or bowed so as to resiliently and frictionally maintain said uppermost tray in said limited position as well as in any desired intermediate position.

7. In a device of the class described, a lowermost tray, an uppermost tray, a rst tubular :member fastened to said lowermost tray for movement therewith, a second tubular member fastened to said uppermost tray for movement therewith, extensible means interconnecting said rst and second tubular members, said extensible means comprising a plurality of slidably nestable members, means for limiting the movement of said uppermost tray in a direction away from said lowermost tray, means for maintaining said device in any desired extended position, said last named means comprising a resilient member frictionally interposed between adjacent pairs of said slidably nestable members and means for causing said resilient member to travel with one of said pair of adjacently disposed nestable members.

8. In a device of the class described, a lowermost tray, an uppermost tray, a iirst tubular member fastened to said lowermost tray for movement therewith, a second tubular member fastened to said uppermost tray for movement therewith, extensible means interconnecting said rst and second tubular members, said extensible means comprising a plurality of slidably nestable members, means for limiting the movement of said uppermost tray inl a direction away from said lowermost tray, means for maintaining said device in any desired extended position, said last named means comprising a resilient member frictionally interposed between adjacent pairs of said slidably nestable members and means for causing said resilient member to travel with one member of said pair of adjacently disposed nestable members, said last named means comprising .a pair of circumferential beads in said last named nestable member for holding said resilient member captive therebetween.

DAVID HELLER, 

